Method of fireproofing cotton in bales.



I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

HENRY V. HALEY, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY; ASSIGNOR-OF ONE-HALF TORICHARD A. WOOLDRIDGE, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

METHOD or r-mnrnoomno oo'r'ron IN Barns.

No. 865,Q33-.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Application filed April 4, 1907. aerial No. 366,241.

' of cotton whereby the exterior surface and a limited portion of thedepth of such bales will be rendered fireproof, and'will also beprotected from the deleterious action of air and moisture.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for preventing theignition of cotton bales when subjected to flash of flame or other firewhich under ordinary circumstances would cause the bale or the coveringthereof to become ignited.

A further object. of this inventionis to protect the bale of cotton fromthe deleterious action of airand' moisture which results when a bale ofcotton which has not been treated as herein described is permitted tostand out exposed to the elements, as for instance on wharves or otherexposed places.

A further object of this invention is to treat bales of. cotton by amethod which, while effective in producing the conditions sought,entails but the minimum of cost, as well as the shortest possibleconsumption of time in effecting the desired result, thus causing butlittle ,delay in the progress of the bales from the gin or compress tothe cars or vesselsby which the same are.

to be. transported, also avoiding any diminution of the output from suchcompress, v

A still further object of this invention is to produce the bales havingfire proofing surfaces which will prove.-

efficient and satisfactory and which will also prevent I deleteriousaction of air or moisture on the cotton con' tained in the bale without,as stated, detracting from above mentionedcalciumsulfid in theproportion of two parts of the same to the proportions of theother'elements above given. .This'addition to the solution I find aidsin the penetration thereof.

In applying the composition to the bale it is my purpose to havea vat ofsuch proportions astto permit a bale orseries of bales to be submergedor I may have the vvatof such size as to permit the bale to enter at oneend and be withdrawn from the opposite end. The

construction of'the vat is not a material detail of the in and thecotton is treated as stated by having it submerged in the solution.

It has been found in practice that the bale of cotton should besubjected to the action of the solution for a period of about tenminutes, although this time may be varied to suitparticular requirementsand it follows that 6 5 the time of saturation maybe extended so as toincrease the action of the solution on the cotton or the depth of thesaturation. The cotton fibers forming the bale when the bale is immersedin the vat absorb the solu-. tion by their capillary attraction, andthis action is permitted to continue a sufficient length of time toenable all the cotton .to a limited extent on the surface of the bale,as for instance a depth of two or three inches, to become saturated withthe solhtion. It is to be understood of course that. the interiorportion of the bale is' not reached. by the solution, but-only itsexterior surface to a limited portion of ts' depth.

What I claim is: r v The method of treating cotton bales, which consistsin submerging such bales in a protecting and fire proofing hatlrfor aperiodof time suflicient to cause the holes to become impregnated ontheir surface and to a limited portion of their depth, such bathconsisting of asolution of boric acid .and calcium sulfid insubstantially the proportions described.

In testimony whereof I afiixnly signature in'the presence of'twowitnesses this 4th day of April, 1907.

HENRY V. HALEY.

- Witnesses: v

Lo'r'rxn E. BARKLEY, J. Ross Common.

